What It Takes To Direct The Music For Hamilton
NIONradio Ep. 107
I’m super excited about today’s guest, Alex Lacamoire. My girlfriend Stacy London and I have been on the Hamilton journey for a while now. I’m not really a Broadway person, but if you haven’t heard this musical, it’s time to take a listen. It is revolutionizing the way we learn about history, and it’s revolutionizing the genre of musical theater. Hamilton won 11 Tony Awards this year, and Alex won one of those. He is the orchestrator and musical director of the show, and he is a brilliant creative who works alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda.
In this episode we learn about Alex’s creative process, how he got into music, his struggle with hearing loss. One of my favorite things about talking to Alex is his amazing positive energy and outlook on life, and we talk about that has helped get him where he is today and helped mold his creative career.
“Without a doubt music is what I’ve always wanted to do, music is what I feel like I was born to do, it’s what I feel like I do best, it fills me, fulfills me, it fuels me.”
Some things we learn in this podcast:
- When Alex got involved in music [4:40]
- How he got involved in musical theater [6:25]
- The influence of his mom [8:00]
- How music helped Alex grow up [12:25]
- What happened when Alex started losing his hearing [16:20]
- Where his positive outlook came from [23:25]
- How his attitude affects his career [26:40]
- How he uses psychology in his work with actors [28:35]
- Why Alex’s art is in service of others [36:40]
- How he met Lin-Manuel Miranda [41:10]
- What it felt like winning awards [42:40]
- How his creative process works with Lin [44:40]
- How to get out of a cycle of self doubt [51:55]
- Why he doesn’t thrive on a routine [55:05]
- Where Alex gets his inspiration [56:15]
Links mentioned:
- Learn more about Hamilton
- Check out Dear Evan Hansen
- Music Credit: Float by GIIANA
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Nick Onken is a photographer, author, and creative entrepreneur. In NIONradiohe dives underneath the hood and into the mind of successful creative entrepreneurs, brilliant business minds, and other highly influential personalities. Discover how to make a living with your art, create your own creative lifestyle, and push past the fears that hold you back. Listen in to get inspired and unlock you inner creative.
